Fourth annual Northern Plains Biological Symposium is April 14 The Biology Graduate Student Association (BGSA) will host the fourth annual Northern Plains Biological Symposium Saturday, April 14, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. in the Memorial Union Lecture Bowl. The NPBS is an annual conference that provides an opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students as well as faculty from regional colleges and universities to be exposed to current biological research. The goals of the NPBS are to facilitate an open discourse on relevant topics in the field of biology, provide an opportunity for graduate and undergraduate students in the upper Midwest to present their research in a professional setting, and expose students to current research trends. This year’s symposium will feature Dan Brooks from the University of Toronto as the keynote speaker. Dr. Brooks is a pioneer in the study of systematics and evolution. He has authored over 300 peer reviewed publications and several books, and in 2004 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada. Much of his current work is aimed toward the conservation of biodiversity worldwide, beginning with accurate documentation of biodiversity. Registration for the NPBS is free and includes a catered lunch. Attendees can register by clicking on the Northern Plains Biological Symposium link on the UND Biology web page: (http://www.und.edu/dept/biology/biology_main.htm.) Funding for The Northern Plains Biological Symposium is provided by North Dakota EPSCoR, Graduate School, College of Arts and Sciences, President's office, biology department, and the Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs office. -- James Maskey, PhD Candidate, Biology, james.maskey@und.edu, 7-3674